Thanks for all that information Scot. Fingers crossed that Andy makes his target of going to Miami for his winter training, even if it might not be for as long as usual. I can see him getting very frustrated though. It won't be too bad right now because of the pain, but as this decreases and he starts to become more mobile, he's going to have to learn to be patient and not try to rush things.

From an article I came across, this is what a sports physio has to say about treating athletes -

We tend to find that athletes have a ‘can do’ attitude to their recovery and they always want to push themselves, because that is part of their character. They usually want to push the boundaries at each stage of the recovery period – whether it’s getting rid of crutches too soon or trying to run before the should. Their mental attitude is all about doing things faster and harder but that is not how recovery from injuries works, especially with something as delicate as the back/spinal nerves.

He also says -

The exact nature of Murray’s procedure will depend on the specific issues he has, the overall extent of problem and how much, if any, the nerve is affected. Some surgeries are more invasive than others but the main aim of most procedures like this is usually to ‘tidy up’ the disc and free up the nerve. From there it would be a matter of easing the inflammation and finding a balance between resting and mobilising the back to gradually get it moving again.

The recovery period is also hard to predict and, again, it depends on the severity of the problem. If the nerve has been compressed significantly then it could cause a bit of weakness in the muscles in the lower limbs. This would show in something as seemingly insignificant as being able to lift a toe but sport at the level Murray plays it is all based on tiny margins.

It may only take a few weeks to get back into training, but even so I think it’s very sensible that Murray’s team are already saying that he is unlikely to be back in time for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London in November. Even though this is probably a relatively minor operation, It’s important to manage Murray’s expectations as well as everyone else’s and not rush things.

So that means his fans managing their expectations as well. It might not be easy, but it's worth remembering that in seven weeks the season will be over anyway, and that we can look forward to seeing a fit and pain-free Andy back on court, hopefully at the beginning of next year.

Sounds as if everything is going to plan, because you're usually just kept in overnight. He'll be off the morphine pump and saline drip, and a physio will be assessing him by giving him some basic maneauvers to complete before he will be discharged. I had to walk up and down the corridor (using a walker) and climb/descend 3 block steps.

He will be in pain right now, but will be given a few days worth of painkillers to take at home. When he's home he will probably have to get up out of bed every hour and walk around the room. You have to keep moving. There are also other exercises to complete while lying in bed.

Andy Murray ‏@andy_murray 3mAfter spending 2 days in hospital you realise and appreciate how amazing a job carers, nurses, doctors etc do in hospitals all over the world looking after people who are in need.. Thanks to everyone at hospital for looking after me and putting me back together again..

Oh bless his heart. What a lovely thing to say! Shows how genuine he is and how appreciative of what's been done for him.

An aunt of mine had to do the same sort of thing after a hip replacement. Recovery was a slow process (she was in her late 60s) but it was all worth it in the end because it gave her a new lease of life.

An aunt of mine had to do the same sort of thing after a hip replacement. Recovery was a slow process (she was in her late 60s) but it was all worth it in the end because it gave her an new lease of life.